CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – On August 11, the Tennessee Office of the District Attorney General issued an update to the public on an officer-involved shooting.
The footage was made public and posted to YouTube.
According to the DA:
On August 11, 2023, detectives from the Chattanooga Police Department Gun Team and other law enforcement agencies were trying to find several dangerous criminals to serve warrants on them. Roger Heard Jr. was one of those people. Heard is a gang member, a violent offender, and a notorious drug dealer. He has felony convictions in Hamilton and Bradley Counties and has served time in Federal Prison for being a felon in possession of a handgun. He had outstanding felony warrants out of Knox County when he approached CPD officers on Friday, August 11th. The Chattanooga Police Department had obtained credible information about Heard’s whereabouts, the Speedway at Holtzclaw and 3rd Street, and that he would be engaging in illegal narcotics transactions there. Law officers monitored Heard for a period of time while he was parked at a gas pump before seeking contact in order to serve the outstanding warrants and take Heard into custody.
“CPD Investigators Batterson and Ayers met Heard’s vehicle as it was trying to leave the parking lot of the Speedway. As Investigator Batterson approached the driver’s side door of Heard’s vehicle, he and Ayers were loudly and repeatedly announcing themselves as police officers. They were also wearing police badges on their tactical belts, which are readily observable on their waistlines. Before Batterson was able to reach Heard’s driver’s side door, a marked CPD vehicle with activated blue lights can be seen pulling into the parking lot next to Heard’s vehicle. As Batterson approaches, Heard can be seen reaching for an object—what we now know to be a firearm— with his right arm,” Wamp said.
Batterson tried to open the suspect’s car door, but the suspect kicked in the direction of Batterson, raised his right arm, and fired multiple shots at point blank range at Batterson, hitting him in the right arm. Batterson quickly retreated before he could answer with gunfire.
According to the footage, Heard was purposely driving in the direction of Batterson while still armed when he was confronted with gunfire by Batterson and other law enforcement officials. Heard was carrying a considerable amount of cash, roughly one pound of marijuana in his vehicle, and the pistol he used to shoot Investigator Batterson was stolen in Chattanooga in 2022. Heard was prohibited from possessing any form of handgun since he was a convicted and dangerous felon. On the night of August 11, 2023, Heard was committing a slew of felonies, all of which were overshadowed by his attempt to shoot a law enforcement officer at point blank range.
“First and foremost, I want to personally acknowledge the immense sacrifice and bravery of our law enforcement officers. This incident is an example of the danger they often put themselves in only to ensure our safety. When a police officer is shot, it is an attack on the very fabric of our society … an assault on the principles of justice and order that we hold dear.
The officers involved in this incident, like so many officers are required to do, were forced to make split-second decisions under extreme stress and pressure.
Investigator Batterson, Investigator Ayers, and Officer Dyess did the exact job that they were called and trained to do.”
“Our community is extremely fortunate that we did not lose a law enforcement officer.” The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has worked relentlessly under my supervision to gather as much information and evidence as possible in a short amount of time. We were able to piece together the information surrounding this incident through crime scene examination and gathering, witness interviews, and video evidence. The video provided today is owned by a private corporation in a different state and was only made available to TBI after a production subpoena was filed.
It is not CPD policy for investigators to wear body cameras, so no body camera was able to catch the attempted murder of Investigator Batterson. The investigation is still underway because no investigation can be completed in less than a week.
“It is at times like these that a community must decide where its priorities lie. My goal is that we would prefer truth over rumours and unity over discord. My aim is that we can see what is wrong while also embracing what is right. My office stands behind and supports Investigator Batterson as he recovers. We are extremely grateful that he is still alive.”
Read More:
- A 14-year-old girl from Georgia who went missing last month was discovered halfway across the country
- Friday morning, a 38-year-old woman was shot in Chattanooga’s East Brainerd neighborhood
